Our Three-Tiered Approach
Transforming how Indigenous knowledge shapes education, policy, and global development through systematic innovation and community-centered advocacy.
Structural Innovation
Embedding Indigenous ways of knowing directly into our education system
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Project-Based Interventions
Collaborative, community-rooted projects linking local experiences to global conversations
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Field-Based Advocacy & Outreach
Training Indigenous youth and women to become advocates and change-makers
Learn MoreStructural Innovation
We embed Indigenous ways of knowing directly into our education system, redefining what learning looks like in tribal communities.
Schools of Indigenous Knowledge
Dedicated institutions reflecting linguistic and cultural identity
Mother-tongue Classrooms
Education delivered in native languages for deeper comprehension
Smart Pictorial Classrooms
Visual learning methods respecting Indigenous learning styles
Mentor-Mentee System
Senior students guide juniors in life skills and traditions
Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE)
A landmark initiative benefiting over 25,000 Indigenous children, now nationally recognized under India’s NEP 2020.
Teaching-learning materials in 10 tribal languages
First-of-its-kind Language Lab focused on Indigenous languages
Over 150 trained teachers and 40 resource teachers
Multilingual children's magazine (KUSUMA)
World's only Indigenous language (Santali) daily news bulletin, Santali Khabar
Animated film in Kuvi to teach Odia alphabets
Kuvi language keyboard for Motorola devices (with Motorola & Lenovo Foundation)
Indigenous Knowledge
In a historic move, 14 Indigenous knowledge holders, with little or no formal education, have been formally inducted as Professors of Practice at KISS-DU. They teach tribal art, music, storytelling, herbal medicine and more, ensuring that traditional knowledge is not just archived but actively taught as part of the academic curriculum.
Our Tribal Advisory Council (TAC), formed in 2021, brings together experts, public servants, and social workers deeply connected to tribal communities. Supported by the Adivasi Parents Association and KISS Alumni Association, it ensures all decision-making is rooted in Indigenous voices.
Project-Based Interventions
We undertake collaborative, community-rooted projects that link local lived experiences to national and global conversations on equity, food security, gender and education.
CHIRAG Initiative
Creative Hub for Innovation & Reciprocal Research & Action for Gender Equality – a UKRI-funded partnership building sustainable food systems in Odisha and Bihar with a gender lens.
- Partnership with University of East Anglia, PRADAN, and Gram Vaani
- IVRS line receives 200+ calls daily in Kui, Odia, and Desia
- Community-led digital platforms and creative expression hubs
- Empowers tribal women and children with knowledge and voice
Research Partnerships
TIGR2ESS (Cambridge–UKRI) and Mission Uday enable research-driven development with grassroots participation, supported by trained volunteer networks.
- Cambridge-UKRI research collaboration (TIGR2ESS)
- Mission Uday grassroots development initiatives
- Trained volunteers in remote tribal districts
- Health, nutrition, and gender equity initiatives
Field-Based Advocacy & Outreach
KISS trains Indigenous youth and women to become advocates, storytellers, and change-makers, translating lived knowledge into actionable policy recommendations.
Policy Contributions
Contributed to National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 provisions
Shaped SARTHAQ implementation framework
Participated in ECOSOC dialogues and UN COP side events
Showcased at UN Food Systems Summit 2021
Global Recognition
This model of embedding cultural knowledge in education, pairing it with data-driven research and amplifying it on international platforms, has positioned KISS as a leading voice in Indigenous-led development.
KISS & the United Nations
Since 2015, KISS holds Special Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC, advancing SDGs from the ground up and ensuring Indigenous communities are centered in global development.
Key Collaborations & Recognitions
UNESCO Chairs Roundtable – South Asia
Hosted 16 UNESCO Chairs from India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka for cross-border dialogue on education, inclusion, and Indigenous knowledge systems
UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize (2022)
Awarded for MTB-MLE, empowering Indigenous children through culturally grounded literacy
SEEK with UNESCO MGIEP
First institution globally to introduce SEEK emotional learning course for empathy and emotional intelligence
UNESCO 'Fit for Life' MoU
Tripartite collaboration leveraging sports for well-being, gender equality, and social inclusion
UNESCO SAPA Framework
Key partner in piloting this global framework evaluating sports for inclusive development
UN ECOSOC Youth Forum 2025
Organized high-impact dialogue: 'Empowering Young Women and Girls through AI'
On-the-Ground Impact through UN Partnerships
Mission UDAY with UNFPA
Trained and empowered 1,500 Indigenous youth in leadership and SRH
Project 'Samarthya' with UNFPA
Reached 8,700 adolescents with disabilities with inclusive education
Palanhar Yojana Evaluation
Comprehensive evaluation with UNICEF & Govt. of Rajasthan
Gender Responsive Budgeting
Supported UNICEF Rajasthan in equitable budget design
UNDP Migrant Worker Study
COVID-19 impact assessment across six Indian states
UN75 India Campaign
Hosted dialogues on global cooperation and peacebuilding
Ongoing Global Engagement
KISS regularly contributes written submissions to the High-Level Segment of ECOSOC and participates in UN forums and panels across the world. Its consistent presence and thought leadership reflect a growing recognition of Indigenous-led models of development within international policymaking spaces.
Virtual side event at ECOSOC Youth Forum, 2022
KISS at UN ECOSOC Youth Forum 2022
Rooted in Tradition, Leading with Vision
Advocacy at KISS is grounded in listening, partnership, and cultural humility. Our work creates platforms where Indigenous voices shape the policies that affect their lives—bridging grassroots realities with global ambitions. As we continue to bridge grassroots realities with global ambitions, we remain committed to nurturing a world where Indigenous knowledge is valued, cultural identity is celebrated, and every child has the opportunity to thrive—on their own terms, and in their own language.
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